Saddle



July 17, 1962 A. w. BALDWIN SADDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb, 26, 1960QJ.. A

INVENTOR. ALBERT W. BALL-.www

AT TO 2N EVS July 17, 1962 A. w. BALDWIN SADDLE 2 Sheets-Sheety 2 FiledFeb. 26, 1960 INVENTOR. ALBEZT W. BAL-DWH! AT1-05451 EYS UnitedStatesPatent C 3,044,234 SADDLE Albert W. Baldwin, Box 334, Meeteetse, Wyo.

Filed Feb. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 11,321

7 claims. (ci. sti- 44) ri`his invention relates to the general class ofsaddles and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains toimprovements in the making of western saddles.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a freeswinging stirrup leather which swings forwardly to provide suitablebracing means when riding down steep inclines or when making suddenstops.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for hanging stirrupleathers in such a manner asto swing from `the center of the saddleseat, the stirrup leathers having substantially the same radius as theriders legs.

Still another object `of this invention is to provide a stirrup leatherhanger which is sutliciently strong to withstand any strain placedthereon caused by severe pulls incurred in the ordinary use of thesaddle or by virtue of an inadvertent accident.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means in a saddlewhereby no opening is left to cause sag in the seat leathers.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a stirrupleather hanger which will t any adult size western type saddle tree.

Again, it is another object of this invention to provide la stirrupleather hanger which will not cut, bind or cause any excessive wear onthe stirrup leathers, and a cover for the hanger to prevent the seatleathers extending thereacross from sagging.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means whicheliminates the use of `an elongated T-shaped j conventional strainer inthe seat.

A still further object of this invention is Ito provide a stirrupleather hanger to which the saddle groundwork may be easily fitted, andto provide a means whereby the groundwork may be formed from smallerpieces o-f leather than are normally incorporated in the conventionaltype "western saddle (and wherein no opening is left to cause sag in theseat leather.

Still Ianother object of this invention is to provide a stirrup leatherhanger to which ground work may be fitted which does not make the saddleseat higher Ithan the-seats of conventional saddles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means by whichstirrup leather openings which are conventionally found in all-leatherriggings may be eliminated.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a saddle whichis non-complex in construction and assembly inexpensive to manufactureand maintain, and a saddle which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the instantinvention will become more evident from a consideration of the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a western type saddle having a lowseat land a forwardly sloping saddle fork constructed in accordance withthis invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the saddle shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, transverse, detail crosssectional view, FIGURE3 being taken on `the vertical plane of line 3 3 of FIGURE l, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal, detail crossvsectional view,FIGURE 4 being taken on the horizontal plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 2,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the saddle 3,044,234PatentedJuly 17, 1962 ICC tree bars with `a stirrup hanger devicesecured thereto and further illustrating in `full lines the normaldepending position of the stirrup leathers and their respective forwardpositions in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the component elements ofthe saddle shown in FIGURE l prior to their assembly.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10designates, in general, a western type saddle constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the instant invention. As is seen in the drawings,the saddle 1t) includes an upwardly and Iforwardly extending fork oryoke l2 which has, as 1an integral part thereof, a bight portion 14 fromthe central portion of which forwardly projects a horn 16. The yoke 12includes a pair of rearwardly extending substantially parallel andlaterally spaced apart tree bars 18 which normally engage the back of ahorse on either side of its Withers. Extending transversely through thebight 14 is a passageway or gullet 26. Adjacent the free rear ends ofthe tree bars 18 and spaced inwardly from the outer ends thereof isfixedly secured a saddle cantle 22, the cantle 22 spanning the tree barsand being fixedly secured thereto by conventional means. All of theabove constitutes saddle construction according to convention.

The improvement in saddle construction to which the instant invention isaddressed comprises the provision of a stirrup leather hangerdesignated, Vin gener-al, by the reference numeral 24. The hanger 24includes forwardly and rearwardly disposed angle members 26, 28, re-

spectively. The angle members '26, 28 are formed'of lany suitablematerial, preferably, a malleable metal,` and the angle member 26 isseen to include a concave-convex chevron-shaped arm 30 having itsrespective arm portions 32, 34 extending forwardly with respect to thetree bars 18. From the rear longitudinal extending marginal edge of the`arm 30 upwardly projects a substantially V- shaped flange 36 having anapex 38. As is clearly seen in FIGURE 5, the flange 36 is provided witha rearwardly opening arcuate depression 38 disposed substantially at theapex thereof.

The rear angle member 28 comprises a similar concaveconvexchevron-shaped -arrn` 48 having lan upwardly opening depression 42disposed centrally of its arm extensions or portions 44, 46. The anglemember 28 also includes an upwardly projecting, integrally formed flange48 which extends along one of the longitudinally extending marginaledges of the arm 48. VAs is seen in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the flange48 includes -a centrally disposed inwardly .bowed section 5t) whichopens towards the depression 38 formed in the flange 36, the depression3S and the inwardly bowed section `48 being located in substantiallyconfronting relation relative to each other. The angle members 26, 28`are extended over `and fixedly secured, las by screws 52 to the treebars 18.

Fixedly secured to the llanges 36, 48 lare a pair of stirrup leatherhanger rods 54, 56 which have one pair of adjacent ends secured to theflange 36 on opposite sides of the depression 38, and the other ends ofthe stirrup leather hanger rods are fixedly secured to the ilange 48proximate the opposed'sides of the bowed section 48. As is clearly seenin the several figures of the drawings, the rods 54, 56 diverge awayfrom each other from the flange 36 towards the flange 48. Stirrupleathers 58, 60 are now looped about the rods 54, 56, respectively, `and`depend therefrom. Reference numeral 62 denotes an open ended invertedsubstantially U-shaped channel member forming a cover for the hanger 24.The cover 62 includes a bight 64 having flanges 66, 68 depending fromthe opposed longitudinally extending sides thereof, the flanges 66, 68being adapted to engage against the remotely disposed sides of theflanges 36, 48, respectively.

The ground work and assembly ofthe `saddle also includes a pair of,substantially trlangularly shaped spurs respectively, to the tree bars18 with the base end '7 2 thereof abutting the lower ends of the armportions 32, 34 of the arm 30.

Reference numerals 74, 76 denote a pair of substantially rectangularleather pads Which are secured, respectively, to each of the tree bars18 in vthe conventional manner with the forward ends Vthereof disposedin abutting relationship with respect' to the arm portions 44, 46, therear ends 78, 80 of which are skived and extend rearwardly and partiallyinto the cantle 22. As is clearly seen in FIGURE 6, the rear ends 78,3810i the pads 74, 76 are slightly rounded.

Reference numerals 82, 84, 86 denote leather strips having asubstantially'ogive configuration, these strips -being superimposed onone another and on the Vleather spurs 70 with the bases thereof abutting:against the forwardly facing side of the ange 66. The leather strips82, 84, 86 have skived end portions and extend partially upwardly andover the yoke 12. Reference numerals 88, 90, 92 denote a second seriesof superimposed leather strips also having an ogive conguration, thelast mentioned leather strips being also superimposed on the leatherpads 74, 76 yand extending at their rear ends, upwardly into the cantle22. The several bases of the leather strips 88, 90, 92 are, as is seenin FIGURE 4,

disposed inA abutting relation with respect to the liange 68 of thecover 62. Interposed between the leather strips 88 and 90 an ogiveshaped metal strainer 93 by which the leather layers thereabove are keptfrom. sagging.

superimposed over and iixedly secured to the leather strips 86 and 92,the metal cover 62 and the bars 18, is a final leather 94. As is seen inFIGURE 6 of the drawings, this nal leather issubstantially rectangularin configuration but is somewhat arcuate in shape at its opposed ends.This iinal leather 94 comprises the only one of the several leatherstrips 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 which extends entirely across the bight64 of the cover 62.

With the above described ground Work of the saddle 10 glued together andsecured to the yoke 112 and tree bars 18, the leather strips 82, 84, 86and 94 are cut away as at 96 to form a hand opening therethrough Whichis in open communication with the gullet2l.

From the foregoing description of theV saddle 10 it now becomes obviousthat for the most part, `the leather ground work of the saddle 10 may bebuilt up of small pieces of leather 'which would normally find no use inthe art of saddlery and which would be normally discarded as Wastematerial. that the leather ground work assembly does not increase theheight of the saddle thereby permitting the rider to remain seatedproximate the horses back.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 5, the stirrup leathers 58,60, as illustrated in full lines denote the normal depending positionvthereof fromV the rods 54, 56. However, should the rider nd it necessaryto ride At the same time, it should alsoV be observed g assassihaving ayoke including a pair of arms comprising saddle tree bars, said stirrupleather hanger device including a pair of concave-convex chevron-shapedangle members each having a normally upright flange extendinglongitudinally of an edge thereof, said angle'members extendingtransversely of said bars and secured thereto in longitudinally spacedrelation, a pair `of longitudinally extending laterally spaced stirrupleather hanger rods extending between and ftxedly secured to said angesof said angle members, said rods diverging -away from each other in adirection away from said yoke, said rods each being adapted to beloosely engaged, respectively, within the looped end of a pair ofstirrup leathers, and a cover member spanning said lianges at the upperends thereof and extending over said rods.

2. A stirrup leather hanger device for a riding saddle having a yokeincluding a pair of arms comprising saddle tree bars, said stirrupleather hanger device including a pair of Vconoavefconvex chevron-shapedangle members extending transversely of said bars and secured thereto inlongitudinally spaced and confronting relation, said angle membershaving their respective convex sides projecting away from `said treebars, each of said angle members having a normally upright flangeprojecting away from an arm thereof, said flanges being `disposed inconfronting relation relative to each other, a pair of longitu-v yokeand having one of their respective adjacent pair of ends iixedly securedto one of said flanges on opposite sides of the apex thereof, the otherpair of adjacent ends of said rods being xedly secured to `the other ofsaid anges on the opposite sides of the apex thereof, said rods eachbeing adapted to be loosely engaged, respectively, within the looped endofa pair of stirrup leathers, said cover means spanning the upper endsof said flanges and being disposed over said rods in -spaced relationrelative thereto.

3. A stirrup leather hanger device for a riding saddle having a yokeincluding a pair of arms compri-sing saddle -tree bars, said stirrupleather hanger device including a pair of concave-convex angle membersextending transdown a steep incline or come to an abrupt and suddenhalt, the stirrup leathers 58, are free to swing forwardly vto assumesubstantially the positions shown in dotted lines without binding orcutting. As is seen in this ligure, when the stirrup leathers S8, 60 arein their normal depending position, only the forward corners of theirrespective looped portions 98, 100 engage about the rods 54, 56. When,however, it is necessary for the horsemen to move the stirrup leathers`to their respective forward positions, the entire looped portions ofthestirrup leathers engage about the rods 54, 56.. l `Ha1ving described andillustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will beunderstood that the same is oiered merely by way of example, and thatthisinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.Y

What is claimed is: Y

l 1. A stimip leather hanger device for a riding saddle versely of saidbars and secured thereto in longitudinally spaced relation, each of saidangle members 4including a normally upstanding flange and said angesbeing disposed in confronting relation relative to each other, and apairof longitudinally extending laterally spaced stirrup hanger rodsextending between and being ixedly secured to said flanges with one pairof adjacent ends of said rods connected to one of said flanges onopposite sides of the apex thereof `and the other pair of adjacent endsbeing iixedly secured to the other of said flanges on the opposite sidesof its associated flange, a substantially U-shaped cover memberextending across and between said flanges, said cover member havinglongitudinally-extending depending `side anges engaging theremotely-disposed sides' of sai-d one and other anges, said rods eachbeing adapted to be loosely engaged, respectively, within the looped endof fa pair of stirrup leathers.

4. In a riding saddle having a yoke including a pair of arms comprisingsaddle tree bars, that improvement in said saddle which comprises theprovision of a stirrup leather hanger which includesa pair ofconcave-convex chevron-shaped angle members each having an arm portionextending transversely of said bars and secured thereto inlongitudinally spaced relation, each of said angle members including anormally upright flange, said flanges being disposed in confrontingrelation relative to each other, a pair of longitudinally extendinglaterally spaced stirrup leather hanger rods extending between and xedlysecured to said lianges, said rods diverging away from one another in adirection away from said yoke, said rods each being adapted to beloosely engaged, respectively, within the looped end of a pair ofstirrup leathers, and a ground work for said saddle for forming a saddleseat, said ground work comprising a plurality of superimposed leatherstrips xedly secured to one another and to said tree bars, the uppermostone of' said seat forming strips extending entirely across said stirrupleather hanger device, and the remainder of said strips having endsdisposed in abutting relation relative to the remotely disposed sides ofsaid flanges.

5. In a riding saddle having a yoke including a pair of arms comprisingsaddle tree bars, and a cantle iixedly secured to said saddle tree barsadjacent the free ends thereof, that improvement in said saddle whichcomprises providing a Vstirrup leather hanger device which includes apair of concave-convex chevron-shaped angle members each being providedwith an elongated arm and a normally upwardly projecting flange, saidyangle members extending transversely of said bars in longitudinallyspaced relation relative to each other and having the arms thereofiixedly secured to said bars, said angle members each having theirconvex side facing upwardly and away from said tree bars, said flangesbeing disposed in confronting relation relative to each other, said angeof the angle member nearest said yoke having a depression formed thereinadjacent the apex thereof, the flange of the other of said angle membershaving an inwardly bowed portion at the apex thereof, said depressionand said inwardly bowed portion of said anges opening towards eachother, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced stirrupleather hanger rods extending between and being xedly secured to saidflanges, said rods diverging away from each other in a direction awayfrom said yoke, one adjacent pair of ends of said rods being secured,respectively, to the immediately adjacent one of said anges on oppositesides of said depressed portion and on opposite sides of said inwardlybowed portion, an inverted substantially U-shaped channel memberincluding a pair of depending laterally spaced flanges, said anges beingadapted to engage against the remote sides of said flanges of said anglemembers with the bight portion of said inverted U-shaped channel memberspanning therebetween, and a ground work for said saddle including aplurality of leather strips superimposed one on the other and having oneof their respective adjacent ends disposed in abutting relation relativeto one of said anges of said channel member, the oppositely disposedends of said strips being supported on said yoke, a plurality of leatherstrips disposed in superimposed relation relative to one another andhaving one of their respective adjacent ends positioned in abuttingrelation with respect to the other iiange of said inverted U- shapedchannel member, the opposed ends of said last named leather str-ipsextending rearwardly of said tree bars and partially into said cantle, aleather strip extending between said yoke and said cantle andsuperimposed against the uppermost ones of said superimposed leatherstrips, and said last named leather strip and the first of saidsuperimposed leather strips having a hand hold opening extendingtransversely therethrough.

6. A stirrup leather hanger device for a riding saddle having a yokeincluding a pair of arms comprising saddle tree bars, said stirrupleather hanger device including a pair of concave-convex angle membersextending transversely of said bars and secured thereto inlongitudinally spaced relation with the convex side thereof facing awayfrom said bars, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spacedstirrup leather hanger rods extending between and ixedly secured to saidangle members, said hanger rods diverging away from each other in adirection away from said yoke, said rods each being adapted to beloosely engaged, respectively, within the looped end of a pair ofstirrup leathers, and -a covermember for said hanger, said cover membercomprising an inverted substantially U- shaped channel member extendingbetween and supported on said angle members.

7. In a riding saddle having a yoke including a pair of arms comprisingsaddle tree bars, and a cantle iixedly secured to said saddle tree barsadjacent the free ends thereof, that improvement in said saddle whichcomprises p-roviding a stirrup leather hanger device which includes -apair of concave-convex chevron-shaped angle members each being providedwith an elongated arm and a normally upwardly projecting flange, saidangle members extending transversely of said bars in longitudinallyspaced relation relative to each other and having the arms thereoflxedly secured to said bars, said angle members each having their convexside facing upwardly and away from said tree bars, said flanges beingdisposed in confronting relation relative to each other, said flange ofsaid angle member nearest said yoke having a depression formed thereinadjacent the apex thereof, the llange of the other of said angle membershaving an inwardly bowed portion at the v apex thereof, said depressionand said inwardly bowed portion of said flanges opening towards eachother, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced stirrupleather hanger rods extending between and being fixedly secured to saidiianges, said rods diverging away from each other in a direction awayfrom said yoke, one adjacent pair of ends of said rods being secured,respectively, to the irnmediately adjacent one of said flanges onopposite sides of said depressed portion and on opposite sides of saidinwardly bowed portion, -an inverted substantially U-shaped channelmember including a pair of laterally spaced flanges, said anges beingadapted to engage against lche remote sides of said flanges of saidangle members with the bight portion of said inverted U-shaped channelmembers spanning therebetween, a groundwork for said saddle including aplurality of leather strips superimposed one on the other and having oneof their respective adjacent ends disposed in abutting relation relativeto one of said flanges of said channel member, the oppositely disposedends of said strips being supported on said yoke, a plurality of leatherstrips disposed in superimposed relation relative to one another andhaving one of their respective adjacent ends positioned in `abuttingrelation with respect to the other flange of said inverted U-shapedchannel member, the opposed ends of said last named leather strips ex-References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MillsJuly l0, 1923 Hawkins July 24, 192,3

